The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-05-21
THE TORONTO RIOT.
The Chief of Police Appears In Behalf of the

Tho Chief of Police Appears In Behalf of the
Peace-Lovins and Law-Abiding People
TORONTO, May 2O.-The Mayor has received
the following letter from Chief of Police Gras-
sett in reference to the attack upon William
O'Brien:
His Worship, W. II. Howland
''Sir-I have the honor to furnish you with the
following facts relative to what TRANSFERRED on
Wednesday evening, connected with Mr..
OBrien, from which you will see that the police
department is in no way to blame for not provid-
ing adequate protection on that occasion. From
what appeared in the papers and through the
representative New York paper, who
called at my, office on We e1,n
that it Mr.. O'Briens intention to leave To
ronto for the east the same evening Accord
ingly, gave directions to have the necessary
precautions taken to insure his safe departure
from the hotel and railway station. When 1t
was found that both the outgoing trains had left
the Union Station without Mr.. O'Brien, the Of
fcer in charge Of the men, concluding there was
no further need of their services. sent them
back to their divisions. Two men, however,
were stationed at the hotel, and patrol sergeant
was in the Immediate neighborhood Shortly
after s o'clock Mr.. OBrien, with friend,
appeared at the door and was immedi-
ately recognized by the crowd in the vicinity,
of whom raised cheer. while others
groaned. When the patrol sergeant saw tn at
Mr.. OBrien intended taking walk, he strongly
urged him not to venture out on foot. as it was
unsafe to do so without strong escort of police
the sergeant, with the other two constables.
followed render all the assistance in their
power. in case Mr.. O'Brien should be attacked.
1t soon became apparent that Mr.. OB-ien had
chosen an untimely hour to walk abroad.
but instead of retracing his steps to
the hotel, which he could have reached
in safety. he turned down Bay street.
Hereit was that few stones were thrown, and,
while the three policemen were endeavoring to
keep the crowd in check, Mr. OBren took to
his heels and ran till he reached Lalors shop on
Wellington street, through which he passed to
the rear. eventually gaining his hotel by the
back premises, which he did within ten minutes
from the time he started ont. The mob con-
timed to throw stones. aud broke the windows
of Lalor's shop, the darkness preventing the
constables from seeing who were the aggressors
Had the crowd really intended to lay
violent hands upon Mr.. OBrien, they could
have done without serious opposition,
but such does not appear to have been their pur-
pose, and it is believed their object was to
brighten him more than anything else After
Mr. O'Brien had made good his escape, the
crowd reassemb led in front of his hotel, and
continued singing and cheering until about mid
night when they quietly dispersed Such. In
brief, is what occurred, so far as Mr.. O'Brien
was concerned.
I'm conclusion / would say that if the gentle
who left word at police headquarters of Mr..
OBren's movements on Tuesday had given any
intimation of his programme for Wednesday,
an ample force of police would have attended to
protect him wherever he went The statements
that have appeared in print as to the occurrences
OF Wednesday evening have been much exag-
gerated. and are calculated to give undue prom
inence to what under ordinary circumstances,
would not have been regarded a very serious
matter, though it is much to be regretted that
Mr.. O'Brien was not permitted to come and go
without any Interference from the citizens of
Toronto, who are usually SO peaceful and law
abiding.
81 have the honor to be. sir. your obedient
servant, H. j. GRASSETT, {. c."